Folding support



1950 w. E. MQWREY 2,520,469

FOLDING SUPPORT Filed May 20, 1946 w R: 13 E1) B 5 1 1 43 .,.......1.. 4a .L Lil Patented Aug. 29, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDIN G SUHPURT Walter E. Mowrey, Glendale, Calif. Application May 20, 1946, SerialiNo. 6701996 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a folding. support and is particularly directed to folding means for supporting a sawhorse, table, bench, or the like.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel folding support for, such an article. or devicehavin-g legs which are adapted in one. position. to lie. adjacent. the body of the device for compactness and. to be pivotally extended to another. position to provide a rigid support.

Another objectis toprovide novelbrace means for. pivotally mounted legs. on a device of the type described.

Another object is to provide a novel form of latchmeans for maintaining. the. braces. and legs inthe fully extended position.

Another. object is to provide an. improved form of pivotal. attachment. for the folding. legs. of a table, bench, sawhorse or the. like having maximum rigidity and ease. of operation, together with light weight and compactness.

Other objects-and. advantages will appear hereinafter.

The present-invention willbe; described in. connection with its embodiment in a folding sawhorse, but it is to be understood that the invention has equal usefulness as applied to a table, bench, chair, desk, etc.

' In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a folding sawhorse embodying my invention, with the legs in their fully retracted position.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view;

Figure. 3 is a fragmentary, detailed perspective view showing. details of the trackway and. sliding connection. with one of the struts;

Figure 4 is an end View of the" device shown in Figure. l with the legs moved' to their fully extended position, the lower ends of the legs being broken away.

Figure 5 is a partial longitudinal sectional view showing details of construction of the latching device for releasably holding the strut in operative position.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the device on a small scale illustrating the legs in their fully extended position.

Referring to the drawings, the working platform it is carried on the base II, which extends longitudinally thereof. At each end of the base H is secured brackets I2 which are provided with symmetrically disposed depending flanges l3 and I4.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the flanges i3 2; and I4 extend downwardly at an angle from the central portionof thebracket l2. Theright angle extension I5, l6sis provided on the back side of each flange i l for apurpose described. below.

Pivotal elements, such asbolts 2-? and t8, extend through thaflanges t3 and M in a direction: respectively normal.- therete, and the upper ends. of the legs 19 and 20' are: carried. on these bolts. The angular mounting of. the flanges It and I4 is such that the legs is and Millie in parallel relation in theirretract-ed position on the base. i l, but upon being pivotally moved to their operative extended positiomtheiree ends 2 l: and- 2. 2 of the legs [8 and 20 separate in a transverse-direction; In their fully extended position they" provide a wide footing for support of the sawhorse against overturning, as-willbereadily understood from a consideration of. Figures 4 and 6; In their fully extendedpositiomthe legs. [9 and 2%]? are engaged by the extensions I5. and t6, respectively, to contribute to the provision of a relatively rigid connection between the upper ends of the legs and the base I I:.

Transverse apertures or openings 23 and 2c are provided through the legs: l9 and- 2 B, respectively, intermediate their ends. A transverse tie-rod 25 extends. loosely through the apertures 2-3, 24-, and is provided with: nuts 2% and washers 2-? on each. end, which: are adapted to contact. the sides of thelegs' Wanda 2on1 theirfully extendedposition. Thisarrangement islshown in Figure 4.

A strut 28 is secured at one end to the tie-rod 25. by any convenient means, such as welding, and is curved at its other end to slide between a pair of juxtapositioned. longitudinally extending arms 2:5 and 3?}, which cooperate to form a trackway generally. designated 3!. Slots 3.2- and. 33 may be formed. on the sides of the strut 28' for sliding engagement with the arms 29 and Eli.

Means are provided for releasably' securing the; strut 28 in a position corresponding to the. fully extended position of the legs [9 and 20, and as shown in Figure 5, this means includes a transverse pin 3t extending between the elements 29 and 36 of the trackway 3|, which is adapted to limit outward travel of the strut 28 along the trackway 3!. A resilient stop element 35 is secured to the base I! at a location between the track elements 29 and 30.

As the sliding end of the strut approaches the stop pin til, the resilient stop element deflects to permit the strut to pass by, and when it reaches the pin 36 the stop element 35 springs inwardly to the position illustrated in Figure 5 to prevent return motion of the strut 23.

A release finger 36 is mounted on the strut 28 and is positioned for convenient manual actuation in order to deflect the resilient stop element 35 out of the path of the return travel of the strut 28; thus, when it is desired to move the legs back to their retracted position, the release finger 36 is actuated to deflect the resilient stop element 35 and thus permit sliding motion of the strut 28 relative to the trackway 3!. A feature of this construction is that the resilient stop element 35 is mounted in a relatively inaccessible position between the rails 29 and 30 and the release finger 36 extends inwardly through the gap between the rails for actuation of the stop element 35. By this construction the stop element 35 is enclosed against accidental actuation and yet is readily movable by the finger 36.

The working platform ll] may be secured to the base I! by any convenient means and it is contemplated that this platform may be reversible or replaceable whenever wear in service makes such action necessary or desirable. The platform may advantageously be constructed of relatively thick plywood which may be inverted to present a new surface after the top side has become worn. The brackets l2 may be secured to the base II by means of the fastener elements 3?. It will be understood that if desired the brackets 12 could be divided into two separate supporting elements, each having its flange for pivotally carrying its respective leg.

The longitudinal elements 29 and 30 forming the trackway 3! may be secured to the base I by fastener elements 38.

In order that the free ends of the legs in their retracted position may not interfere with the legs on the other end of the device, the brackets 12 may be displaced slightly on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the device, or they may be mounted at a slight angle to avoid such inter ference.

When the legs are moved to their fully extended position they provide a rigid support for the base I i and working platform It since each leg is supported at its upper end by both the flanges l3, l4 and right angle extension l5, 16, as well as being maintained against further spreading movement by the washers 2'! on the ends of the tie-rod 25. Furthermore, the cooperation of the strut 28 with the tie-rod 25 holds the legs against pivotal movement in either direction.

It is contemplated that the platform 10, base H and legs may be constructed of wood or of light gauge metal or of aluminum or magnesium alloy. Furthermore, it is apparent that certain of the parts, such as platform i9, base ll, trackway 35, etc., could be combined into a single integral unit without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A folding support for a device such as a table, bench, sawhorse, or the like, having in combination a platform, longitudinally spaced brackets fixed on the under side of the platform, transversely spaced pivotal supports on each bracket, the axes of said supports being symmetrically positioned at an angle to the platform, a pair of supporting legs on each bracket, one pivotally mounted on each support, means for moving both legs on either bracket simultaneously from an inoperative folded position to an operative extended position, said means including transverse tie-rod extending loosely through both legs at points intermediate the length of the legs, the length of the tie-rods being no greater than the width of the platform, and abutments on the ends of the tie-rods adapted to engage the legs in their fully extended position, one to act as a brace.

2. A folding support for a device such as a table, bench, sawhorse, or the like, having a platform, the combination of: a pair of brackets adapted to be fixed in spaced relationship to the underside of the platform, transversely spaced pivotal supports on each bracket, the supports extending at an angle symmetrically from each end of each bracket, a pair of supporting legs on each bracket, one pivotally mounted on each support, means for moving both legs on either bracket simultaneously from an inoperative folded position to an operative extended position, said means including transverse tie-rods associated with both legs at a point intermediate the length of the legs, abutments on the ends of the tie-rods adapted to engage the legs in their fully extended position only to act as a brace, a first strut fixed at one end to one of the tierods centrally thereof, a second strut fixed at one end to the other tie-rod centrally thereof, and separate means for securing the other end of each strut relative to the platform.

WALTER E. MOWREY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

